Golf course application ‘premature’

Council disappointed with First Nations Callaghan plans

Lead negotiator for the Lil’wat Nation, Lyle Leo, said the
application to build golf course/residential development in the Callaghan
Valley was premature and inaccurate.

He was just as surprised to see the application on Whistler
council’s agenda as council itself was, blaming the mistake on a glitch in the
process at the provincial Integrated Land Management Bureau.

“It’s not accurate and it isn’t aligned with the collaborative
approach that we’ve been taking with the Whistler administration,” said Leo
this week.

He hopes the premature application will not hurt a growing
partnership with the resort municipality.

“The partnership is working,” said Leo. “There’s a lot we are
undertaking which means there’s a lot of information that can be misinterpreted
and sometimes go down the wrong path and we have to back up and do some damage
control and ensure that we strengthen our partnership rather than create
dissension.”

Mayor Ken Melamed said that was good news.

“If nothing else it confirms to First Nations our feelings
about the Callaghan,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to working with them when they re-apply
because we know they have an interest in the Callaghan and they understand that
there’s opportunity in Whistler and we’re committed to working with them.”

Council was unaware of this mistake at Monday’s council meeting
however, as it considered the application as per a request for comment from the
provincial ILMB.

Its feedback was clear — building a residential
development beside a golf course in the Callaghan Valley is not consistent with
the resort municipality’s growth strategies or its vision in the Whistler2020
plan.

They were unanimous in their opposition to the plans.

“It is a little disappointing that this application has been
made by the First Nations,” said Councillor Nancy Wilhelm-Morden, adding that
she had hoped their relationship with neighbouring First Nations was a little
stronger.

“We rejected (the Callaghan) as an opportunity for resident
housing,” he said. “The thought of creating a significant market housing
subdivision… is something I can’t support.”

Councillor Eckhard Zeidler, who has been active in wilderness
conservation initiatives in the areas surrounding Whistler, removed himself
from the discussion due to a conflict of interest.

The remaining councillors were relatively quiet on the issue.

The 12-page joint application by Squamish and Lil’wat Nations,
which was advertised in newspapers over the holidays, details an 18-hole golf
course but there is scant information on the residential component of the
project.